Why Baltimore Ravens had to sign Sam Mustipher
The Baltimore Ravens signed Sam Mustipher, a center from the Chicago Bears. Considering Mustipher has started for the Bears for the past two seasons, this signing is significant in some way. What does it mean?
Why Baltimore Ravens had to sign Sam Mustipher
First, it shows us why the Chicago Bears were picking first, and why it has been tough for them to know what they have in Justin Fields, Mustipher has started the past two seasons, but his best role is as a reserve. If you view Mustipher as a starter, you have issues, once you change the expectations, the experience becomes pretty valuable.
When you look at the Baltimore Ravens roster, they need a backup center if anything would happen to Tyler Linderbaum. Fans are screaming right now that this is what Patrick Mekari is for.
This is fair and totally reasonable, but Mekari has also been valuable at essentially each and every other spot. When you look at the Ravens roster, they have questions across the line. Ronnie Stanley could be healthy, but he has not gone a full season since 2019. Patrick Mekari is the best left tackle option, it will be more important for him to take snaps with the backups at tackle, than the backups at center. So, someone has to snap.
Beyond tackle, Ben Cleveland is young and inexperienced, and Kevin Zeitler is experienced to the point where may be at the end of the road. John Simpson will be the swing guard, but you could make the case if Stanley is healthy Mekari could also be a good option at guard.
Mekari will get his snaps at center, but if he is primarily a backup left tackle, then splitting other snaps between guard and center, the team needs a legitimate backup center to take those snaps.
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Chicago Bears fans do not like Mustipher for his full-season work, but you can pull games or moments where he gave them consistent play, or at least helped them get out of the stadium that week with a win. That is all the Baltimore Ravens need from him. However, they do need that, and that is why this signing makes so much sense.